Page 15 of Destiny

“No.” I hold up the wine list. “Most of these wines are from my dad’s winery, Brendan. I can get them for free. Why should I pay these pumped-up prices?”

“Because I want you to have what you want, Ava. You deserve a dinner out, and I’m happy to treat you to it.”

“Brendan…”

“Look.” He grabs my hand across the table. “I wouldn’t have invited you if I didn’t think I could afford it. I can handle a nice dinner every so often. This means a lot to me. I want you to enjoy it.”

“All right. But I don’t need a bottle of wine.”

“That’s fine, but I want you to order whatever you want.”

I scan the menu for a moment.

Our server arrives. “Good evening, I’m Adrian, and I’ll be taking care of you this evening. Can I start you both off with something to drink? A cocktail?”

“Ava?” Brendan raises his eyebrows.

I smile. “I’ll have a pink squirrel.”

Brendan chuckles, his fair skin blushing. “It won’t be as good as mine.”

“Probably not. But that’s what I’ll have.”

“I’ll have Peach Street bourbon on the rocks,” Brendan says.

“Good enough. I’ll be right back with those drinks, and I’ll get your appetizer order then.” Adrian whisks away.

I look back down at the menu. The appetizers are so expensive.

“So what are you thinking?” Brendan asks.

“I don’t know. Probably a green salad and then maybe the vegetable linguine.”

Brendan raises an eyebrow. “You’re not a vegetarian, Ava.”

“That doesn’t mean I don’t like eating vegetarian meals sometimes. When you grow up on a beef ranch, sometimes it’s nice to stay away from meat.”

He gives me a stern look. “Ava, order whatever you’d like.”

“Thatiswhat I’d like, Brendan.”

He narrows his gaze, looking even sterner. “If you could order anything on this menu, what would it be?”

I look down. I do like vegetables, and I’d enjoy the vegetable linguine. But if I’m being honest… “The grilled Rocky Mountain trout. With the lobster risotto.”

“Then that is what you’ll have,” Brendan says. “And I am going to have the New York strip, rare.”

I lean toward him, lowering my voice. “It’s probably our beef. You can come eat dinner at my house and have it for free.”

He laughs. “You’re not getting it, are you? I want to take my lady out. I want to pay for a nice dinner. I don’t care that I can get the wine and beef for free if I eat with your family, and I’m not interested in what this will cost. I want to treat you to dinner at a nice place because I love you.”

My cheeks warm once more. “Okay, Brendan. But next time, I treat.”

He smiles. “Absolutely. I am fine with that.”

Adrian returns with our drinks.

“Hmm,” I say. “This looks different from the pink squirrel you made for me.”

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